What could have caused lower IR ESA payment?

Hi,

my last IR ESA payment before I must move to UC by 18 January 2026, was £ 165 instead of £ 257. That never happened before, and I did not report any change of circumstance, nor I have received any communication from the DWP as to why my payment has been reduced.

Any thoughts at all as to what might have triggered this change? Of course I am not expecting you know the exact cause which might be too specific, just any opinion you have at all. I seem to have read somewhere that someone had their IR ESA changed to New Style Esa before moving to UC, do you think that could be possible? What would then be the implications of that when I move to UC?

Any thoughts at all appreciated. I am not expecting a guarantee that you are right. I already wrote to the DWP (I prefer always to put things in writing) but who knows when of if it will reply. Thanks.

Thank you David. All sorted, it was because my ESA ended after the first deadline and before the final one. I am submitting my UC claim by the final one, so the DWP just paid me until the ESA ended.